5,551 new virus cases, another record broken

It wa s another record-breaking day in Pennsylvania as the state Department of Health reported 5,551 new cases of the coronavirus Saturday.

The seven-day moving average of newly reported cases was 4,565 on Saturday, up 60% from 2,851 a week ago.

This brings the statewide total of infections, since the start of the pandemic, to 259,938.

Here are more details from the daily update:

Deaths

Overall: 50 new deaths, bringing the total statewide to 9,274.

Hospitalizations

On Saturday, 2,314 people were hospitalized, up 60 from the day before. Of those, 248 patients were on ventilators, up 22 from the day before. Most of the patients hospitalized are 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in that age group.

Hospitalizations are a key statistic because one of the aims of mitigation is to keep the health care system from being overwhelmed.

Testing

There were 19,167 new tests, for a positive test rate of 26.1%, compared to 22.5% the day before. The overall positive test rate is now at 8.8%.

Lehigh Valley

Cases: 241 new cases (134 in Lehigh County, 107 in Northampton County), a drop from 301 the day before. That brings the total to 15,166.

Deaths: Two new deaths, both in Lehigh County, compared to no deaths on Friday. That brings the total to 696.

Both counties are now categorized by the state as having substantial virus spread.

Other developments

Philadelphia continues to lead the state in cases, with 1,156 on Saturday; followed by Allegheny, 370; Delaware, 284; Montgomery, 278; and Lancaster, 276. (Note: Philadelphia often lags behind in data reporting so 1,156 may represent multiple days of reports.)